ACR Communications shuffles owners

|tab|

A new name will soon headline the Springfield public relations firm Archibald-Cowan-Ringer Communica-tions Inc. |ret||ret||tab|

St. John's Lisa Nally has bought into the company for an undisclosed amount and will take sole ownership. The date of complete ownership transfer is to be announced.|ret||ret||tab|

Hands-on owners Diana Cowan and Paula Ringer are staying aboard through a transition period.|ret||ret||tab|

"Our plan is to stay on board to facilitate a smooth transition, and that time period has not been determined," Ringer said.|ret||ret||tab|

Nally joins the firm April 1.|ret||ret||tab|

Nally said an entrepreneurial yearning inspired her move from the position of St. John's Clinic director of marketing, a post she accepted slightly more than a year ago.|ret||ret||tab|

Nally said she has drawn on that experience and her work at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, where she served as vice president of community development/special events, to learn how to help businesses exceed.|ret||ret||tab|

"I've always had an entrepreneur's spirit," Nally said. "The more I got into it, the more I thought, I could do this. I want to do this.' (ACR Communications) is actually the best of both worlds, because not only can I be in this position as a small-business owner, I can be helping out other small businesses as well."|ret||ret||tab|

The only planned change at this time is a name change to ACR Nally Communications, she said. Nally expects that to take place in the near future to reflect her equity position.|ret||ret||tab|

|ret||ret||tab|

Broadening horizons|ret||ret||tab|

Cowan and Ringer initiated the change in ownership. |ret||ret||tab|

Since the firm's third partner, Rosa Archibald, moved to Kansas City in April 2001, the two day-to-day owners have also been looking at other interests. Although Archibald left the daily involvement, she still held part ownership.|ret||ret||tab|

"We decided that if we didn't start some sort of a transition at some point, we would never get to pursue anything else," Cowan said. At this time, however, their future careers are "fuzzy," Cowan said. "We're kind of open right now."|ret||ret||tab|

Added Ringer, "We see Lisa's involvement as building a brighter future for ACR. Down the road, it will be exciting to see what can open up for us."|ret||ret||tab|

Meanwhile, St. John's is currently interviewing for a replacement for Nally, according to Donn Sorensen, senior vice president and chief operating officer of St. John's Clinic. Nally said she will help St. John's through its transition.|ret||ret||tab|

"Lisa has been a vital part of our marketing success at the clinic this past year," said Sorensen. "She has improved our image to our physicians and co-workers, as well as the community at large, and I know she will be successful in providing the same services to other clients."|ret||ret||tab|

[[In-content Ad]]